Have you applied to study at JGU, but the review of your international certificates indicated a requirement to take an assessment test before beginning your studies? Then visit the Studienkolleg of the International Preparatory and Language Center (ISSK) to prepare for your assessment test.
You can also find information on the additional assessment test or the external additional assessment test here.
First, you need recognition of your international certificates. Your certificate of recognition must include the phrase “We confirm university admission after passing the assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung)” in order for you to be able to take part in the Studienkolleg. The certificate of recognition is issued by JGU.
If you fulfill the requirements, you can use your certificate of recognition to apply for the Studienkolleg in Mainz. Begin by finding out what relevant focus courses are offered.
When applying for the Studienkolleg, you will need to choose a focus course. You can find out which focus course you need for your desired subject through JGU’s degree descriptions under “application information” or the admissions office of the universities or the higher education institutions you want to study at after the Studienkolleg.
The following focus courses are available:
| Focus course at the ISSK | Subjects taught at the ISSK | Subjects tested as part of the admission examination at the ISSK | Examinations in the assessment test at the ISSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| S/G course Field of study: Degree programs in languages (S course), humanities, arts, and social sciences (G course) | German Social Studies History Fundamentals in the Humanities | Fundamentals in the Social Sciences | German Social Studies History Fundamentals in the Humanities |
| M course Field of study: Medical and biology-related degree programs | German Mathematics Physics Biology Chemistry | Biology Mathematics | German Mathematics Physics Biology Chemistry |
| T course/TI course Field of study: Degree programs in technology, mathematics, and the natural sciences (except biology-related degree programs) | German Physics Chemistry Mathematics Computer Science | Mathematics | German Physics Chemistry Mathematics Computer Science |
| W course/WW course Field of study: Degree programs related to economics and the social sciences | German Economics Social Studies Mathematics | Mathematics | German Mathematics Business and Economics Social Studies |
The Studienkolleg does not take place in parallel to the academic calendar, but rather at slightly different times.
Fall term: If you apply for the winter semester, you will be enrolled in the ongoing summer semester. Classes begin mid-August.
Spring term: If you apply for the summer semester, you will be enrolled in the ongoing winter semester. Classes begin mid-February.
Winter semester:
Mid-March to May 15
Summer semester:
Mid-September to November 15 (one-time suspension of processing from November 1 through November 8, 2026)
Please note that you will need a final certificate of recognition issued by JGU when you enroll. Make sure you have enough time to obtain it if you used a temporary certificate for your application.
If your application is successful, we will upload your official letter of admission online. It will contain all of the information you need regarding when and where the admission examination will take place.
Have you already passed the assessment test but the focus does not match your desired subject? In this case, you can take an additional assessment test in the focus area you need.
Winter semester:
Mid-June to July 15
Summer semester:
Mid-December to January 15
In addition to the certificate of recognition from JGU, we require the certificate from your assessment test for the application.
If your application is successful, we will upload your official letter of admission online. It will contain all of the information you need regarding when and where the examination will take place.
You can also take the assessment test without attending the Studienkolleg. The assessment test is challenging. You should only apply for the external assessment test if you cannot attend the Studienkolleg for personal reasons or have failed the admission examination for the Studienkolleg with no option to re-sit.
Winter semester:
Mid-March to May 15
Summer semester:
Mid-September to November 15 (one-time suspension of processing from November 1 through November 8, 2026)
In addition to the certificate of recognition from JGU, we require proof of German language proficiency (at least at the C1 level) for your application.
If your application is successful, we will upload your official letter of admission online. It will contain all of the information you need regarding when and where the examination will take place.
Information for applicants to the Studienkolleg
To receive a place in the Studienkolleg, you will need to apply successfully and also pass the admission examination.
Winter semester: in June
Summer semester: in December
We will inform you of the exact date of your admission examination in your official letter of admission.
Please note:
- Apply early in order to maximize your time to prepare for the admission examination. The earlier the better.
- The Studienkolleg has a limited number of spots. Passing the admission examination does not guarantee a spot in the Studienkolleg. You can find information on the admission examination and the examination subjects here.
Read the letter of admission carefully to see which documents you must submit by when in order to enroll at ISSK’s Studienkolleg.
Your official letter of admission will indicate which additional documents we need.
Now that you have successfully enrolled in the Studienkolleg, you are ready to go!
As an enrolled participant of the Studienkolleg, you will now receive
- Your access details to activate your student account (email, etc.)
- Your semester documents
- Your ID in the JGU ID card app
- Your semester ticket
You will find information regarding when and where your courses take place in your official letter of admission.
Courses at the Mainz Studienkolleg are held in German and are generally one semester long. The courses comprise about 32 hours a week. The ISSK’s course and vacation dates differ from JGU’s lecture periods and semester breaks.
Have you passed the assessment test? Congratulations! If you passed the assessment test or your additional assessment test and are applying for a degree program, you will need to state the overall grade of your university entrance qualification.
The overall grade of your university entrance qualification is made up of the grade on your certificate of recognition (50%) and your assessment test grade (50%). If the resulting grade has several places after the decimal point, simply leave the numbers after the tenths place out. For example, instead of 2.55, your overall grade would be 2.5.
The overall grade of your university entrance qualification is made up of the grade on your certificate of recognition (50%) as well as the grades of the individual examinations of the additional assessment test and the grades of the individual examinations of the assessment test (adding up to 50%). If the resulting grade has several places after the decimal point, simply leave the numbers after the tenths place out. For example, instead of 2.55, your overall grade would be 2.5. Your new grade is only applicable if you apply for a subject for which you require the additional assessment test.
The new university entrance qualification date is the date of the additional assessment test.
You can now apply for a spot at JGU:
Were you unable to complete the Studienkolleg successfully? You can repeat one semester in the Studienkolleg.
International applicants:
Did you obtain your education outside of Germany? If this is the case, you should look into applying for a Certificate of Recognition and check for potentially required German language proficiency.
Required German language skills/certificates for this degree program:
You can find more information on the International Preparatory and Language Center (ISSK) at https://issk-en.uni-mainz.de/
